Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-07

u L
In several Southern states, but notably
Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi, there
are held annual fairs conducted by asso-
Citations whose members are colored men
negroes, to put it pat. The associa-
lions own suitable grounds and build
ings, award liberal premiums, and the
exhibits are always extensive and credit
able, everything exhibited being the re-
suit of negro industry and ingenuity.
| These annual exhibitions are heartily en-
couraged and attended by the white peo-
pie, thus assuring the negro of the kindly
interest felt by the dominant race in the
progress and welfare of the weaker The
success of the state fairs under the aus
pieces of colored men has paved the way
to movement for q Colored Peoples
Worlds Fair, designed to illustrate the
progress and capacity of the race on the
American cOntineut, but open to the ne
groes of every land. It is significant that
the movement does not have it's origin in
the North, where the negro has enjoyed
freedom for more than a half century, but
in q Southern state, where the free negro
of to-day was chattel property less than
q quarter of a century ago. The idea is
to hold the exposition at Birmingham,
Ala, in the autumn of 1887, and the two
senators from that state, both OF them
white men and Democrats, will ask
congress for aid in the shape of an ap-
preparation or loan, as was the case when
the great expositions were held at Phila-
delphia and New Orleans. When the
matter is brought up it will be seen that
Southern Democrats in congress will be
its most staunch advocates, for these men
have ever been the negroes truest friends.
If there is opposition to the measure it
III come from Republicans of the Blaine
stripe. who do not want to admit that the
negro has prespered and advanced in the
Southern states, under Democratic Iule.
II will be gall and NORWOOD for Brother
Blaine, filling his sails with wind for 166S,
the spectacle of the down-trodden, ignor-
ant negro in the South making prepara-
lions to hold negroes worlds fair!
According to politicians of the Blaine
school, the Southern negro has not been
able to make any progress, and therefore
Blaine crowd can prevent it this under
taking will not get dollar from congress,
at least until the next presidential cleo
ton is well over. THE GAZETTE hopes
congress will take a liberal view
of the matter and extend aid as
may seem appropriate and needed.
There is plenty of idle money
in the national treasury, and if a hundred
Or two thousand dollars will put the
project on foot let the negroes have it and
welcome. The South does not desire to
place any impeachment in the way of the
Colored man, in his ascent to q higher
plane of moral, mental and industrial use
fulness. On the contrary the representa-
tive sentiment of the South rather takes
pride and qualification in every we'll
ordered, legitimate advance the colored
race is able to make. twenty-five years
of freedom have wrought great change |
in the status of the Southern negro, and,
all things considered, he has made won
derful and crediteble progress. The pro-
posed exposition can be made very inter
estlng and helpful. Its results will slim
ulate the negro and strengthen the white
man in his friendliness and respect for the |
negro's efforts. And finally it will show
TO the world that the superior race in the
South, while determined 10 preserve its
supremacy, because it must do so in self
defence, has yet given the negro every ad-
yantsge CT opportunity he could ask to
work out the problem of self-elevstion, is
IN individual and citizen.